Having the best romantic and platonic relationships in Stardew Valley Characters is what most players want. And for you to establish a good bond with them, giving them gifts would do the trick. But if you don’t know what they like, here’s a guide to help you.
For starters, it’s a part of your task to meet every villager in Stardew Valley. Most of them are friendly, while others can be a little grumpy. In befriending these NPCs, you have to give them gifts and favors to increase your Friendship Hearts with them.
If you’re interested in marrying a villager but unaware of what you can give them. Don’t worry. This guide will help you learn about every marriage candidate’s food and item preferences.
Benefits of Befriending Stardew Valley NPCs
You’ll get these benefits if you find make friends with a single and available marriage:
- Get random gifts.
- Acquire food recipes.
- Have interactive conversations showing some of their backstories.
- Find a suitable marriage candidate.
Universal Likes of NPCs
Whether the NPC is a marriage candidate or not, they all have shared preferences in receiving gifts, including Life Elixirs and Maple Syrups. They also take a liking for goods from:
- Artisan Goods
- Flowers
- Vegetables
- Cooked Foods
- Gems
- Foraged Minerals
- Fruits from Fruit Trees
However, there are still some items that are either overly appreciated or hated. Here’s the list of things that are Universally Disliked (U.D), Loved (U.L), Hated (U.H), Neutral (U.N) from the said categories:
| Universally Liked (Most) | Exemption |
| Artisan Goods | U.D: Oil U.H: Void Mayonnaise |
| Flowers | U.H: Poppy |
| Vegetables | U.N: Hops, Tea Leaves, and Wheat U.D: Unmilled Rice |
| Fruit Tree Fruits | Banana and Mango (depends on the villager) |
| Gems | U.L: Prismatic Shards |
| Foraged Minerals | Quartz (depends on the villager) |
| Cooked Foods | U.N: Fried Egg and Bread U.H: Strange Bun and Seafoam Pudding |
Bachelors
It’s not difficult to know these bachelors. Just gift them whatever it is that they like then you’ll establish a fine relationship with them!
Alex
Alex lives with his grandparents in Pelican Town. He may seem cocky, but a lonesome story from his past lies behind his facade.
To hear his story, you should first establish a good relationship with him. You can be friends by giving him some eggs, except for void eggs or anything from the universally liked items.
He also enjoys movies like:
- Journey Of The Prairie King: The Motion Picture.
- Mysterium.
- The Brave Little Sapling.
- The Miracle At Coldstar Ranch.
- The Zuzu City Express.
If you want to purchase a snack for him, you can get him:
| Concessions |
| Black Licorice |
| Cotton Candy |
| Jawbreaker |
| Joja Cola |
| Joja Corn |
| Rock Candy |
| Sour Slimes |
Elliott
You’ll find Elliott in his cabin by the beach. He’s a writer who aspires to create a great novel. To learn more about him, you can give him anything from the Universal Likes except for Amaranth and Pizza.
He’ll also appreciate it if he receives some fruits, but don’t give him a Salmonberry and Pomegranate. And remember, he has a soft spot for these movies:
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World,
- The Brave Little Sapling
- The Miracle At Coldstar Ranch
- The Zuzu City Express
- Wumbus
A film without any food is plain boring. That’s why Elliott likes these concessions from the theater:
| Concessions |
| Apple Slices |
| Jasmine Tea |
| Chocolate Popcorn |
| Hummus Snack Pack |
| Ice Cream Sandwich |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
| Salmon Burger |
| Star Cookie |
Harvey
If you’ve visited the Medical Clinic in Stardew Valley, you’ll find Harvey, the guy with glasses and a mustache. He may seem a little old, but he has a kind and caring personality.
To deepen your bond with him, you can give him anything from the universal likes, and fruits, except:
| Dislikes from the Universally Liked Items |
| Cheese |
| Goat Cheese |
| Blueberry Tart |
| Chocolate Cake |
| Cookie |
| Cranberry Sauce |
| Fried Mushrooms |
| Glazed Yams |
| Ice Cream |
| Pancakes |
| Pink Cake |
| Rhubarb Pie |
| Pizza |
| Rice Pudding |
He has plenty of disapproval from the highly appreciated things, don’t you think? But interestingly, he takes an interest in other foods and flowers like:
| Other Likes |
| Chanterelle |
| Common Mushroom |
| Daffodil |
| Dandelion |
| Duck Egg |
| Duck Feather |
| Ginger |
| Goat Milk |
| Hazelnut |
| Holly |
| Large Goat Milk |
| Leek |
| Magma Cap |
| Morel |
| Purple Mushroom |
| Quartz |
| Snow Yam |
| Spring Onion |
| Wild Horseradish |
| Winter Root |
When it comes to movies, he’s interested in:
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World
- The Brave Little Sapling
- Wumbus
While having a good time watching these films, he’ll pair them with these items from the theater:
| Concessions |
| Cappuccino Mousse Cake |
| Hummus Snack Pack |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
| Salmon Burger |
| Sour Slimes |
| Truffle Popcorn |
Sam
Sam is most likely the friendliest bachelor in town. He’s a talented guy with big dreams. If your ideal candidate is a bright and outgoing character, he’s your guy.
To know him better, you can offer him anything from Universal Likes except for Duck Mayonnaise, Mayonnaise, Pickles, and Vegetables. He will also be pleased to receive any egg, excluding the Void Egg. And don’t forget to give him a Joja Cola, he likes it too.
If you wish to watch a movie with him, you can try these since he fancies them:
- It Howls in the Rain
- Journey of the Prairie King: The Motion
- Mysterium
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World
- The Brave Little Sapling
You can increase your points with him if you get him anything from the theater’s menu except:
| Concessioners |
| Apple Slices |
| Black Licorice |
| Cappuccino Mousse Cake |
| Hummus Snack Pack |
| Jasmine Tea |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
| Truffle Popcorn |
Sebastian
Are you looking for a rebellious baddie? Sebastian is whom you’re looking for! He’s quite rude in your first meet-up, but for him to warm up to you, you can give him items from the universal likes except:
- Flowers
- Omelet
- Complete Breakfast
- Farmer’s Lunch
- Artisan Goods aside from Green Tea, Oil, and Coffee.
He would also appreciate receiving a Flounder or Quartz. While inviting him to watch a film wouldn’t be difficult if you pick:
- Journey Of The Prairie King: The Motion Picture
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World
- Wumbus
When it comes to goodies, you can give him anything but except:
| Concessions |
| Black Licorice |
| Cappuccino Mousse Cake |
| Joja Cola |
| JojaCorn |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
Shane
He’s a dude suffering from depression and alcohol dependence. But surprisingly, despite his rude and dejected personality, it’s easy to befriend him! Don’t worry; he won’t stay impolite with you once you strengthen your relationship with him.
It’s not difficult to find a gift that he’ll like. You can choose anything from the following:
- Universal Likes except for Pickles.
- All Eggs aside from the Void Egg.
- All Fruits, excluding Hot Peppers.
When it comes to movies, his taste is quite similar to Sebastian’s but instead of Wumbus, he prefers Mysterium. If you plan on getting him something to eat, don’t purchase these items:
| Concessions |
| Apple Slices |
| Black Licorice |
| Cappuccino Mousse Cake |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
| Truffle Popcorn |
Other than these snacks, you can get him anything from the theater’s menu!
Bachelorettes
Abigail
Abigail is Pierre and Caroline’s daughter who has a unique sense of fashion. It’s easy to be friends with her since she likes almost everything from the Universal Likes except vegetables. She also appreciates minerals such as Quartz!
Interestingly, Abigail and Sebastian have a common taste in movies. Though she also likes the Brave Little Sapling. She’s not picky in getting snacks from the theater, but avoid giving her these foods:
| Concessions |
| Black Licorice |
| Hummus Snack Pack |
| Joja Cola |
| JojaCorn |
| Kale Smoothie |
| Panzanella Salad |
| Jasmine Tea |
Emily
Emily is Haley’s sister who’s working at The Stardrop Saloon. Despite having her job, she has an undying passion for tailoring. She’s a simple yet pleasing villager. If you want to enhance your relationship with her, you can give her anything from the Universal Likes except:
| Dislikes from the Universally Liked Items |
| Fish Taco |
| Fried Eel |
| Ice Cream |
| Maki Roll |
| Rice Pudding |
| Salmon Dinner |
| Spicy Eel |
| Sashimi |
You can also offer her a Quartz or Daffodil if you have some in your inventory.
Moreover, Emily has an almost matching taste to Elliott regarding films. But instead of liking The Miracle Cold Star Ranch, she prefers Journey of Prairie King: The Motion Pictures. In terms of snacks, she likes everything except:
| Concessions |
| Black Licorice |
| Fries |
| Joja Cola |
| JojaCorn |
| Nachos |
| Personal Pizza |
| Popcorn |
| Salted Peanuts |
Haley
Haley is simply the queen-bee type who’s a little conceited and self-centered. But perhaps, she’s not just the typical popular girl.
If you want to know her better, giving her anything from the universally liked items (except vegetables) would do the trick. She will also be pleased if she got a Daffodil.
Finding a movie that she’ll like isn’t difficult since she appreciates a lot of them, including:
- It Howls In The Rain
- Mysterium
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World
- The Brave Little Sapling
- The Miracle At Coldstar Ranch
- The Zuzu City Express
Her ideal concessioners are almost identical to Emily’s; just add the Truffle Popcorn,
Leah
Leah is a talented artist with low self-esteem. Aside from her art skills, she also likes foraging. Just like everyone else, you can give her anything from the Universal Likes, excluding:
| Dislikes |
| Gems except for Diamond and Prismatic Shards |
| Foraged Minerals except for Earth Crystals |
| Carp Surprise |
| Cookie |
| Hashbrown |
| Ice Cream |
| Pancakes |
| Pink Cake |
| Pizza |
| Rice Pudding |
| Survival Burger |
| Tortilla |
Keeping these dislikes aside, you can give her other things such as:
- All Eggs except Void Egg
- All Fruit
- All Milk
Here are some goods that she prefers that aren’t in the commonly liked items.
| Other Likes |
| Chanterelle |
| Common Mushroom |
| Daffodil |
| Dandelion |
| Driftwood |
| Ginger |
| Hazelnut |
| Holly |
| Leek |
| Magma Cap |
| Morel |
| Purple Mushroom |
| Snow Yam |
| Spring Onion |
| Wild Horse Radish |
| Winter Root |
Surprisingly, Leah’s taste in movies is entirely identical to Elliott’s. While picking light meals, she and Emily are also alike.
Maru
Maru is Demetrius and Robin’s daughter and Sebastian’s half-sister. She’s a total techy who likes tinkling over random things. In improving your bond of friendship with her, you can give her anything from the universal likes except Honey, Maple Syrup, and Pickles.
She would also be pleased once she receives:
- Copper Bar
- Iron Bar
- Pine Tar
- Oak Resin
- Quartz
- Radioactive Ore
Moreover, her movie preferences almost match Haley’s. Just add the Journey Of The Prairie King: The Motion Picture to the list. She’s not picky with concessioners, but don’t give her Black Licorice, Joja Cola, and JojaCorn.
Penny
Penny lives in a small trailer by the river. She has some interest in cooking and likes reading books from the library. What do you think is her story with her timid shell? To know her better, you can give her things from the universal likes except:
- Algae Soup
- Beer
- Pale Ale
- Pale Broth
- Pina Colada
- Wine
She’d appreciate it as well if she gets a Dandelion and Leek.
Moreover, you have tons of choices if you want to invite her to a movie. She likes:
- Journey Of The Prairie King: The Motion Picture
- Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World
- The Miracle At Coldstar Ranch
- The Zuzu City Express
- Wumbus
While she also has similar dislikes to Maru for theater snacks, just add the sour slime.
